Holder for microscope slides



qfi- 2, 0 v E. c. WEISKOPF 2,522,416

HOLDER FOR MICROSCOPE SLIDES Filed Aug. 21., 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

Azzggnrzy- Patented Sept. 12, 1950 @UNITED @ATENT QFF IZC-E epresenti invention =-relates Ito J holders for I -microsoope slides, usually referred to as *micro- The primaryobj ect of I the: present invention is the provision -of a, amicro-slide holder which 1 is rparticularly well -=a'dapted for usein automatic iimmersion apparatus, such :as that. shown -for example ain my Unite'd St-a'tes Letters Patent -No. 253413138, for staining the specimens'carrie'dby ithesslides. I

In ustaining slides, a i 'thin sec'tion' of wax-ime rpregnated tissue is:mounted on WgIass-m-ieroscope 'sliderwhich' is .athereaf ter immersed successively einiaepln-rality of difierent zliquids including asolivent "if'or athe wax, in: order :to remove the latter from I-the .tissue. specimen; and including a pm- :mlityoffliquids'fonStalining thertissue. "'The 'slid'e FhGldfilgOf ltl le :presentinvention ena'bles a cemcparatively large number; of slides to *be treated simultaneouslyifor staining them, and-enables. this .:treatment to..be performed automatically in m-y iabove mentioned-automatic immersion appara tus. :In connection it will be "understood that :when theeslide ho'lder of the present invention -is .xattachedato :the automatic immersion apparatus, zthe lslides carriedby saidsli'de holder are .zautomatically i'immersed ':-in succession and for predetermined rperiods :of time a, -'plura'li-ty of .the iliquids necessary"for carrying out the stainingrprocess.

above "and "other :obj ects; features and ad'- yantages .10f lthe invention will be fully under-- stood :from "the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative Idrawings.

; In the. drawings:

Jig. .l.-i,s a 'plansview: of amicro-slide holder or rackembodyingmy present 'invention;

,JEig. 21.15 :a side :view of theslide holden showingalso parts .of a detachable handle provided therefor;

.ZEig..3;is anuend'view of the slide holder;

.Fig.Aiisa.sectionalwiew on the'line 4-4 of Fi -.1;

fFig.j5.a detail :perspective view-of a part of the Slide. holder;

'6 :is :an end :view of the slide holder, at its :end:;which;is opposite .to the end shown 'in .Fig; :7;is aperspective -.view-of the auxiliary-or temporary handle for theslide holder;

--Fig .w8 is a view partlyrin elevation and partly insectionoshowingthe slide holder associated with amopflratin partof the above mentioned automatic.immersionapparatus;

v 2 Fig. 59 is-a "sectional View 'on *the line ""9 9 of Fig A 8, the SIide-I'IOIdBr-and guard 'member" not being shown comprisesa frame 2 having awall m-,--1ateran-w :space'd sides 1 6 -'-'and 8 upstanding from-wall "H, end -wall 20 at one end of the frame and'enfd wall parts 22 and 24 at the opposite end -df--said iframe- As thus-far described, SaidflEIIlQiSDl'Gf- -.-erablyformed infone *piece from *suitable shet :mater ia'l. Ailongitudinally extending "partition member; 2-6 is secured in the =frame= midway between the s'i'des *l 6 and +8, *and 'extends "for "the 'fl'llll]. length :of the frame' di-viding the iatterfih'to two laterally disposed *compa-rtments. As ihere shown, mar-tition inem'ber -26 is channel -sha'pe'd having the la'tera'lly spaced sides 2 8* and 3 0, rovided with bent'lower ends 3-2- and 34; respectively, which are-.spot w'e'lded or otherwise ==se'cured "to wall1l 4lof frame l'z.

.-A helically -coiled spring- 336 is disposedinthe frame compartment -wh ieh is defined *by side I 6 andx'the confronting side 28 of"partitionmember .26, and a: similar helioallycoiled spring lifl' is di's- .posed in the frame= compartmentdefined byside 2158 1 0i lithe fr-ame r andthe oonf ronting "side 30 of 'saidxpartition'.member. "Each of thesesprin'gs in its contracted condition 1 is shorter-in -'-leng th"than .rthe:companion 'frame compartment, assho'wn for ;example: w:ith referenoe to the-spring" 38 in -Fi-gfil,

.whereby -the spring I is '-resilient1y "movable from sanraxi'ally.contractedecondition to an axially ex panded :'condition. As shown in Fig. lysprin'g a3:6..'is :in its \axiallv expanded condition, andit 'willbe understood that spring GBi-s similarlvre siliently :movable to A an axially expanded *condi' tion. .LOneendof each spr-ing' is anchoredto an adjacent end..-part=o:f the frame, preferablyas hereis'howmbydisposingthe spring with-it's adja= cent :endi convolutions at the anchored-end of the spring rat .opposite sides of the *adj acen't-"end part of ithe frame. Thus, asshown'in thedrawings thezadjacent: end oonvolutionsifl and 42 of-spring 36 2.811 8 disposed at-opposite *sid'es, respectively, "of end part zdof 'theframe, and the adjacent end convolutions fl and 46 of the anchoredend or 'springf-SB 'are "disposed "at opposite "sides res.pec-'- tively of" the adjacent end part 24 of the frame. Rods 41 and 49 which are secured to the 'i'rame near wall has hereafter more particularly described, aredisposed'within the springs, as shown injFigs; l and' l, and prevent displacement of the springs laterally thereof and laterally of the compartments through the openings thereof. It will be observed that when the slide holder is inverted as shown in Fig. 8, rods d"! and &9 prevent buckling or downward movement or flexing of the spring which might otherwise occur due to the weight of the slides.

It will be understood that when the springs are expanded so that the adjacent convolutions are spaced from each other, as illustrated in Fig. 1, with reference to spring 36, the insertion of micro-slides in position between adjacent spring convolutions is facilitated, and that when the spring is released from its expanded condition the slides are resiliently gripped by, and thereby held between, the adjacent spring convolutions. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the microslides S are positioned between adjacent companion spring convolutions and are thus resiliently secured and held in position in the frame. -It will be understood that although only a few )micro-slides have been shown, the construction and arrangement is such that a slide may be mounted between each two adjacent convolutions of each spring, whereby the slide holder-has a desirably large slide holding capacity. The springs have a low pitch so that the slides are positioned substantially at right angles to the .first to spring 36, a cross member or pin i8 is disposed in position between adjacent convolutions of spring 36 at the end thereof which is opposite to the anchored end of said spring. Member 48 is movable longitudinally of the frame holder and is guided for said movement by 1021- gitudinally extending guide slots 58' and El pro- ,vided in side It and the confronting side 28 of partition member 26. Member 48 projects through said guide slots, and one end of said member is fastened to a guide plate 52 (Fig.

which is positioned within the channel of partition member 26 in slidable engagement with the .inner surface of side 28 of the partition member.

The outer end of member 68 which projects through guide slot 56 has a catch 5d pivotally mounted thereon and releasably secured thereto in any suitable way as by a screw 56. As shown in Fig. 1, when the spring is in its expanded condition, catch 54 is engaged with the frame for releasably holding the spring in said expanded condition, said catch engaging the adjacent edge 58 of side I6 of the frame. A device of the same construction is provided for releasably holding the spring 38 in its expanded condition. Thus, as here shown a cross member (if; is disposed between the adjacent end convolutions of spring 38 at the end thereof opposite the anchored end of the spring and rides in the guide slots BI and 62 provided in the frame side I8 and in the side of the partition member 26. The retaining plate 66 for member is similarly disposed within the channel of the partition member adjacent plate 52 in. side by side relation with the latter, as, shown in Fig. 4. The releasable catch 66 is pivotally secured at the outer end of cross member 60 by the screw 68 and is releasably engageable with the edge in of the side I8 of the frame. Fig. 5 shows the cross member it, its guide plate 52 and the pivoted catch 54, but it will be understood that since cross member 66, its guide plate 64 and catch 66 are of the same construction as the parts shown in Fig. 5, the latter may be considered as illustrative of each of these devices.

End part 20 of the frame is rigidly secured to end parts 22 and 24 by the above mentioned rods 4! and 49, respectively. It will be understood that each of said rods is shouldered at its opposite ends so that end parts 20 and 22 are held against movement toward each other and so that said end part 20 and end part 24 are similarly held against movement toward each other. The reduced end portions of said rods 12 and 14 pass through openings in the adjacent end parts of the frame and are fastened to said end parts,

respectively, in any suitable way as by screws I6. These screws 76 also serve to fasten the bracket arms I8 to the opposite end of the frame. These bracket arms are formed of spring metal and are each provided with an aperture 80 for releasably attaching the slide holder to bracket member 82 (Fig. 8) by which the slide holder-is attached to the companion part of the automatic immersion apparatus such as that shown in my above mentioned Patent No. 2,341,198,

Bracket member 82 is in the form of a rigid metal strap having confronting end portions. 84 and 86 which are provided with lateral pin projections 88 and 90, respectively, for releasably engaging bracket arms 18 in the openings 80 thereof, whereby to support the slide holder in the inverted position shown in Fig. 8 so thatthe slides carried by the slide holder may be immersed in the liquid provided in the receptacle R of the immersion apparatus, as indicated in Fig. 8. Said bracket member 82 is also provided with lateral projections 92 and 94 which extend from the outer sides of the bent end portions 8 6 and 86 and are engageable in companion holes 96 provided at diametrically opposite points in the perforated basket or guard G for supporting the latteras a unit with the slide holder, as shown in Fig. 8. Bracket member 82 is attached to the rotary shaft 99 of the device I00 which is the same as the device I60 of the immersion apparatus shown in said patent. Bracket member 82 is attached to the lower end of shaft 99, as shown in Fig. 8 and for that purpose bracket member 82 is provided with a non-circular slot I02 (Fig. 9) through which a non-circular party of shaft 99 projects. Said shaft is provided with an opening I04 through which a pliable metal strip I06 is passed and bent at its ends over member 82 as indicated at I08.

An auxiliary handle III) (Fig. 7) is provided as a convenient means for carrying the slide holder it when said slide holder is positioned with the open side of the frame uppermost as shown in Fig. 2. For example, after theslides are stained and the slide holder carrying said slides is removed from the automatic immersion apparatus said slide holder is placed on a suitable support in horizontal position with the open side of the frame uppermost as shown in Fig. 2. Handle HD may then be attached to the slide holder for placing the latter in a receptacle containing asuitable liquid in accordance with any usual method of preparing slides, to protect the tissue specimens until the preparation of the slide is completed and the cover glass is attached. The handle I It comprises the U- shaped member having the arms H2 and IM which are provided with the inwardly projecting members H6 and HS respectively'for engagement with the frame I2 of the slide holder. For

itr;be;ing-.understood that saidarms H2 and H t of thehandle may bersprung .apart sufficiently to enablethehandleto. be attached. to and removedfrom the slideholder.

viIt will be. understood .thatiw'hile theslideholder isintended'primarily for use in connection with thexstaining of slides and. is. well adapted. for

' that-purpose, for usein;automatioimmersion apparatus, said; slide holder may be used generally for'holding slides. andxthat the invention maysbe embodied. in meansv for holding slides in a slide cabinet for example, for filing or storage purposes as described for example in my co-pendin application Serial No. 730,832. Also it will: beunderstood thatwhileI have shown the slide holder provided with .two compartments, saidslide holder mayhave only onecompartment and one. companion slide-holding spring or more thanfitwo. compartments. andv a corresponding number: of companion slide-holding springs.

.LFinally,v it: will. be. understood that various changes .inthe' details. of construction and .in the. arrangement..ofdpartsmay: be made in the slideuholderembodying: the present invention without departing from. the underlying idea or principles thereof withinrs the scope of the .appended claims.

Having.thusdescribed' my. invention, what I claim and-..desirecto.secure by. Letters Patent, is: lrA deviceior holding aplurality of microslide s,.-comprising a frame, a helically coiled spring mounted in said frame and supported therein substantially; throughout: the length. of the. spring formoveinent from an axially. contracted condition to i an axially. expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of. slides between adjacent spring convolutions, and means engaging. said: spring and said frame for positively moving said. spring to said expanded condition and for releasably; holding said spring in said axially..expanded condition thereof, said means moving-in 1a planandire'ctionfrom the disposition thereof insaid. axially contracted condition of said spring to the disposition. thereof in which said means. relea'sably. holds said: spring in said expanded.condition,.the major longitudirially extendin .porti-onofsaid rspring being clear of said spring-moving means and-the spaces between the spring convolutionsinsaid major portion. of. the spring being clear of obstructions substantiallythroughout the areas ofsaid spaces transverselyof the spring axis.

12." A. device. for holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a: frame,.- a helically coiled spring mounted in saidzframe for movement from an axially contracted condition to an axially. expanded conditionitorfacilitate the-'inser- I tionuofslides between adjacent. spring convolu tions,-'-and a catch connected: to said spring and releasably engageable with said frame for releasably holding said sprin in'said .axially'exe pended condition thereof, said catch moving in a-planar direction from the disposit on there f in said-axially contracted conditionsof said. spring a to the disposition thereofin which. saidiicatch releasably engages. said frame for. releasably holding said spring incsaid axially expanded condition. a l

3.. Azdevice for holding; a. plurality, of microslides,v comprisinga;;frame,. a, helicallyvcoiled spring mounted in said. frame, for movement from. an axially contracted condition. to an axially, expanded: condition. to. facilitate the insertion of slides'sbetween adjacentlspring, convolutions,.one end. ofI-said spring being anchored to apart of saidframathaother end-of. said spring being freely movable between the respective-positions: 0f..-said spring in said. axially" contracted and saidaxially expanded conditions thereof, and means for. connecting said otherend oil-said spring releasably-to: another. part of said frame at a pointlongitudinally spaced fromsaid first mentionedipart for releasably holding said. spring in said expanded conditionithereof. 1 4.-A device for holding agplurali-ty. of micro.- slides, comprising -.a frame, a. helically coiled spring mounted insaid framezfor movement: from an axiallycontractedt conditionto an-axially expanded condition .to facilitate the; insertion of slides between adjacent. spring convolutions, and means. engagingsaid spring: and said frame for positively moving: said springto. said expanded condition and for 'releasably' holding said spring in said expanded conditionthereof, said means having; apart connected-to said spring; and movable in the, direction-of'the spring ,axisto the position. in which said means releasahly'holds said spring, in saidexpanded con.- dition thereof, and I said frame. having ;a .guide forsaid means. A devicafor holding, a; plurality of micro:- slides, comprising a. frame, a helically coiled spring mounted in said 'frame, for movement from an. axially contracted. condition to an ax.- ially expanded condition to facilitate the insertionof slides betweenadjacent spring convolutions, said spring being anchored, at. one end thereofto said frame, means engaging-v said spring at a point spaced from said anchored end thereof for expanding. said. spring, saidgframe having a longitudinal guide; and saidzmeans being movable in said, guide, and a. partin operative engagement with said means: and releasably engageable with said frame for-releasably holding said spring in said expandedi condition thereof. .6. A device for holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a frame, a; helically coiled spring-mounted in said frame for movementfrom anaxially contractedcondition to-anaxially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides; between. adjacent spring convolutions, said spring being anchored atone end thereof to said frame, means engaging said spring at a point spaced -from, said anchored end thereof for expanding said. spring, saidframe having a longitudinal guide and saidmeansbeing; movable in said guide,- and a catch carried by said means and releasably-engageablewith,saidframe for releasably holding said spring in said expanded condition thereof. '7. A device for holding a plurality of microsl-id es, compr-ising a. frame,.-a helically, coiled spring mounted in-said frame and supported therein substantially throughout the length of the spring for releasably holding themicro-slides in position between adjacent spring convolutions, respectively, said frame being sufficien-tly open at one side thereof for theinsertion of the body portion of the slides and for the removal of the'slides, and means for Supporting said frame in horizontal position so that the slides project vertically from said spring outwardly through said open side of the frame, the interior of said sprin being substantially'clear of obstructions so that slides inserted between adjacent convolutions of the spring are gripped at their opposite sides, respectively, by substantially the entire peripherally extending portions of said adjacent spring convolutions, respectively.

8. A device for holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a frame, a helically coiled spring mounted in said frame for movement from an axially contracted condition tovan axially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides betweentadjacent spring convolutions, said frame having laterally spaced longitudinally extending parts between which said spring is positioned with the axis of'said spring extending longitudinally of said parts, said parts having longitudinally extending guide means, and a member extending transversely of the springbetween adjacent convolutions thereof and engaging said guide means, said spring being anchored to said frame at a point spaced from said adjacent convolutions. whereby said spring is expanded and contracted in the movement of said member away from and toward said point, respectively.

9. A device for holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a frame, a helically coiled spring mounted in said frame for movement from an axially contracted 1 condition to an axially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides between adjacent spring convolutions, said frame having laterally spaced longitudinally extending parts between which said spring is positioned with the axis of said spring extending longitudinally of said-parts, said parts having longitudinally extending guide means, and a member extending transversely of the spring between adjacent convolutions thereof and engaging said guide means, said spring being anchored to said frame at a point spaced from -1-:'

said adjacent convolutions whereby said spring is expanded and contracted in the movement of said member away from and toward said point, respectively, and a catch pivotally mounted on said member and releasably engageable with said frame for releasably holding said spring in its expanded condition.-

10. A device fo-r'holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a frame, a helically coiled spring mounted in said frame for movement from an axially contracted condition to an axially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides between adjacent spring convolutions, said frame having an opening for the insertion in and the removal of the slides from the spring, and means carried by said frame and disposed internally of the spring convolutions and laterally beyond the spring axis away from'said openin to hold thespring in place without obstructing the spaces between spring convolutions, said frame having sides between which said opening is located and which extend longitudinally of the spring and are positioned adjacent the opposite sides respectively of the latterfor limiting movement of the slides laterally of the longitudinal axis of the spring.

11. A device for holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a frame, a helically coiled spring mounted in said frame for movement from an axially contracted condition to an axially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides between adjacent spring convolutions, said frame having an opening for the insertion in and the removal of the slides from the spring, and means disposed internally of the spring and connected to said frame to hold the spring in place, said spring being resiliently expansible and contractable in relation to said last mentioned means. v

12. A device for holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a frame, .a helically coiled spring mounted in said frame for movement from an axially contracted condition to an axially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides between adjacent spring convolutions, said frame being in the form of a-receptacle provided with. an opening for the insertion in and the removal of the slides from the spring, and a rod secured in said frame and disposed internally of the spring and extending longitudinally thereof near its inner surface remote from said openin to hold the spring in place, said spring being resiliently expansible and contractable in relation to said rod.

13. A device for holding a plurality of microslides, comprising a frame, a helically coiled spring mounted in said frame for movement from an axially contracted condition to an axially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides between adjacent spring convolutions, said frame having an opening for the insertion in and the removal of the slides from the spring, and a rod secured in said frame and disposed internally of the spring and extending longitudinaily thereof near its inner surface remote from said opening to hold the spring in place, said spring being resiliently expansible and contractable in relation to. said rod.

14. A slide-holder comprising a frame having laterally spaced longitudinally extending parts, a longitudinally extending partition member secured to said frame substantially midway between said parts for forming two laterally disposed compartments within said frame, said parts and said partition member having longitudinally extending guide means, a helically coiled spring mounted in each of said compartments for movement from an axially contracted condition to an axially expanded condition to facilitate the insertion of slides between adjacent spring convolutions, the axis of each of said springs extending longitudinally of said frame parts, and separate means engaging each of said springs and said frame for separately positively moving each spring to said expanded condition and for releasably holding each spring in said expanded condition thereof, each of said separate means engaging the guide means of said partition member and the guide means of one of said longitudinally extending parts.

15. In combination, a slide-holder comprising a frame having laterally spaced longitudinally extending parts, a longitudinally extending partition member secured to said frame substantially midway between said parts for forming two laterally disposed compartments within said frame, said partition memberhaving dissimilar apertures at each end thereof, a helically coiled spring mounted in each of said compartments for movement from an axially contracted condition, to an axially expandedcondition to facilitate the insertion of slides between adjacent spring convolutions, the axis of each of said springs extending longitudinally of said frame parts, and carrier means for said slide-holder, said means com.-

9 prising a generally U-shaped carrying member provided with pin members carried at each of its ends, said pin members being dissimilarly shaped to be reieasably insertable within said dissimilar apertures whereby said slide-holder is portable in a predetermined position.

EDWIN CARL WEISKOPF.

REFERENCES CITED Number 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Elliston Aug. 11, 1896 Meinhard Feb. 24, 1885 Millard Oct. 19, 1886 Thome Oct. 28, 1890 Vuillier Oct. 29, 1895 Fabritius June 12, 1917 Schimmel Feb. 18, 1930 Blufi Oct. 28, 1930 Brubach Oct. 20, 1936 Weiskopf Feb. 8, 1944; 

